Dear Householder, since we began distributing the accompanying warning tract "Beware the Cults" in your area, the Christadelphians are the only group who have attempted to reply publicly (at a meeting in the Memorial Hall, Wentloog Road, Cardiff, on 30th June 1998). Their reply, given by Stephen Palmer, was littered with false claims - such as the accusation that we claim they manipulate or brain-wash people - and the claim that the Cardiff Protestant martyr, Rawlins White, was a Christadelphian! We supplied a full 20-page reply to the Christadelphians (as well as having previously answered all their other queries regarding this tract in writing). We have received absolutely no reply to the points we made. The report is now available in the Christadelphiansection and we will soon be adding e-mail comments from Christadelphians.

We have received communications from some quarters which query our approach to other religions - some of which fit the general label of cult as defined on our tract. As a result of the accusation that we are demonstrating "religious intolerance" we intend to answer the letters we have received by carefully and accurately examining the claims of two organisations (the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses) who claim that they alone are the true expression of Christian truth. The news-letter/website record covering these topics can also be obtained from the same address.

How many other dangerous spiritual deceptions are in the world?

It would be difficult to list every existing deception in the world today, but since the growing revival in interest in ancient religions there has been a surge of interest under the umbrella of such as the New Age Movement. Many people have become involved in practices which are described as holistic or disguised under health regimes and therefore not advertised as "religion" by their guru's or teachers, e.g. Yoga & Reflexology. Others are advertised as being of benefit to the mind and body as well as giving you the confidence to be able to defend yourself from violent personal attack; these are particularly appealing to those living in fear in today's society. The "softer" martial arts promise peace & tranquillity through such practices as Tae Kwon-Do & Aikido. We are grateful that many serious exponents of all of these movements are honest enough to admit that you cannot separate the spiritual from the physical elements of the practice - i.e. you CANNOT get the full benefit from Yoga unless you enter into serious meditation which goes hand in hand with the physical movements. ALL of these practices are in reality religious and it is a serious matter to become involved with the forces which power the adherents. As an example, consider the incredible acts witnessed in Karate - the force generated by small & seemingly frail bodies to crush immensely strong wood & stone structures. Many people wonder about the public demonstrations often observed in the media & even express the view that there must be deception involved, e.g. the wooden boards broken must somehow have been weakened prior to the demonstration. Allowing for the presence of some charlatans in all walks of life we concede that the more serious practitioners involved are, indeed, capable of these unfeigned acts of strength. But how? We also allow as fact that the strength feats are not performed by power emanating from the human body, but by supernatural forces which can enter into the body of the practitioner! We fully expect the rationalistic Western mind to deny that this is possible - but we have observed the demonstrations and listened to the testimonies of former practitioners of Martial Arts and we agree with them in one respect - only those who truly embrace the spiritual forces empowering these religions can achieve these feats of dubious worth! It is also the testimony of many who have been involved in these other religions and then accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and become Christians that they were possessed of un-natural forces whilst in these other religions. What cannot be disputed is that until this century the martial arts were regarded as a way of life (the "Do" often found in the name) but practitioners recognised that this would not sell in the West so the emphasis was made towards self-protection (popularised by Kung-Fu films etc.). As an expression of spirituality & religious discipline they were most often practiced in conjunction with Taoism, Buddhism (usually Zen), or Yoga. The "Art" in "Martial Arts" did not refer to the skill in combat but to the philosophy of life and thus made a clear emphasis distinguishing these Oriental systems from comparable Western combat skills such as wrestling & boxing.

We recognise that these views will be rejected by other faiths and even condemned by some people who call themselves Christians, but these spiritual deceptions continue to deceive the ignorant & unwary - there is an old saying, "You cannot play in the coal-shed without getting dirty."

The choice is between God and the Devil!

True spirituality is only available through Jesus Christ who is Lord of everything - both physical and spiritual - choose outside of Him and you flirt with deception

Dabble with the Devil's spiritual powers and those powers will dabble with you!

We have given a fairly comprehensive list of false religions, "Christian" cults and dangerous occultic practices below. If you cannot find the practice you wish to enquire after try comparing it with similar practices, e.g. divination comes in many forms from reading tea-leaves to I Ching, Tarot, and the Ouija board - but the material used is not the important factor - it is the motive. As an example consider that an ordinary pack of cards can be used for Tarot readings if you attribute the same, or similar meanings, to individual cards. It is the malevolent spirits who make the rules - not you! This does not mean, of course, that the innocent will suddenly embrace the occult while playing bridge or whist - although, like many other paths, it may be the beginning of a gambling addiction! So beware the danger. If you use any material on earth to enquire into the spirit world you give the opportunity for malevolent forces to use these things as a gateway into your life! Check out what you are involved in! God forbids contacting spirits, consulting mediums, casting spells or looking for omens (e.g. Tarot & Horoscopes) as is made clear in the Bible, e.g. Leviticus 19:26-31; 20:6,27; Deuteronomy 18:9-14; 1 Samuel 28:4-22; 1 Chronicles 10:13; Jeremiah 27:9; Micah 5:12; Acts 19:11-20. Don't be deceived by thinking that 'white magic' is safe - this originates with the Devil too. The results of encounters with unwholesome spiritual forces are often depression, suicidal tendencies, and harmfully compulsive behaviour.

To the Christian all divination is empowered by the Devil (Satan) & his demons and we have the clear warning from the Bible of King Saul who was rejected by God and resorted to communication with the dead (calling up the spirit of Samuel!) through the Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28v4-22). Saul knew that he was commissioned by God to rid the land of mediums, fortune-tellers, diviners & witches (1 Samuel 28v3) & yet completed his rebellion by this act of utter foolishness involving a sacred vow (v10) to protect the enemies of God! God then allowed Samuel to return & deliver the confirmation that God had rejected him and chosen David (v17). Saul died soon afterwards in tragic circumstances (1 Samuel 31). This is the only time in Scripture & the history of the world that we know that the spirit of a dead man was allowed to return to earth. Why did the witch scream when she saw Samuel (v12)? Because she was used to deceiving evil spirits (demons) impersonating those she called "up" to earn her money - but on this occasion God allowed the real Samuel to complete His judgment on Saul! This is one of the reasons we know that attempting to contact the dead by spiritism/spiritualism/mediumship (even disguised as "Christian" Spiritualism) is forbidden by God.

Don't be deceived - all spirituality comes from focussing on some spiritual force, but there are only two sources - the God of the Bible and Satan. Some will try to argue that their source is "good" - but the Lord Jesus Christ (who claimed full deity, that is, full equality with God) said the only one who is good is God! (Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19). So do not be deceived into thinking that "white magic" is alright - ALL supernatural magic originates with the Devil! Do not assume that divination methods are good for you because you sometimes get information that appears correct - and do not assume that Yoga-type exercises are harmless because you feel healthy & spiritual. Those who assume this fail to realise what has happened: powers which are not from God, and which have supplied the information or spiritual power, begin to work in the life of the person who contacted them. Their goal is to "rearrange" that person's life so that the information they give will become true. Occasionally, or often enough, they succeed.

Seventh-Day Adventists; Worldwide Church of God - these two groups have moved nearer to orthodoxy over the years, but still bear marks of the cults in some aberrational teachings; Word of Faith (Kings Church, Newport) - this is probably the main church in Britain which gives access to the aberrational & heretical teachings originating from E.W. Kenyon which have been plagiarised by Kenneth Hagin & promulgated by K. & G. Copeland; J. Avanzini; M. Hickey; J. Savelle; M. Cerullo & many others. Families have lost loved ones because of these heresies which have led to deaths!

Good health, wholeness, and peace can only come through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ who is not only Lord and Almighty God of the Universe but has also shown us that He wants to be your FRIEND! You can only be His friend by abiding with Him in a daily loving relationship in prayer & fellowship in which you obey His commands (read John 15v1-19) out of love for what He has done for you in dying on a cross at Calvary to pay for all your sins (John 3v16). You cannot earn His love by doing good works, but need to surrender all your life to Him & receive eternal life as a FREE GIFT (Ephesians 2v8-10; Titus 3v5). He saves us to do good works which He has prepared beforehand for us to do - but we can do no good without surrendering our lives to Him first. Do not try and be like those who try and prove their righteousness by leaving God out of their plans and doing things their way. God described such efforts as offering filthy rags to Him! (Isaiah 64v6).

If you are already involved in any of the philosophies or religions mentioned above - or recognise the basis from the general descriptions given - you may already be subtly influenced into accepting some teacher's spiritual input depending on the emphasis given & upon your interest in the method as a form of spirituality - even without you knowing it. Such influence can give you a false sense of security about your position in the world & particularly your relationship with God - leading you to neglect His unique provision in Jesus Christ. True spirituality is only available through Jesus Christ who is Lord of All - physical & spiritual.

God has plans for each one of us that are "good and not evil" (Jeremiah 29v11). Just like Adam & Eve, we all have the same tendency to go our own way (Isaiah 53v6; Mark 7v21) and our sins have separated us from God (Isaiah 59v2). But God has prepared a way back to Him. The Lord Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, came from heaven to earth to die on a cross willingly for ALL our sins (1 Corinthians 15v3; Ephesians 1:7;1 John 1:7; Romans 5:9; Hebrews 13:12). Jesus died & was buried but came back on the third day as He predicted (John 2v18-22 & 10v17-18). Before He returned to heaven He promised to send the Holy Spirit who will live in all those who trust in Jesus - giving them power & ability to live as He wants them to (Acts 1v8).

There is only ONE way out - New Life in the Lord Jesus Christ!

No matter what you have been involved in you can be forgiven by Jesus TODAY for ETERNITY! (Luke 23:39-43). Just pray a simple prayer of forgiveness something like this one:

Dear God, I am sorry for all my sins. I want to renounce ALL my past & go your way. Thank you that you died on a cross & were punished in my place so that I could be forgiven. I am willing to turn right now from all that I know to be wrong & put my trust in You Jesus Christ as my Saviour & Lord. Please make my life clean & send the Holy Spirit to fill me and take control. Help me to become the kind of person you want me to be, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jesus promises that all who trust Him to save them HAVE eternal life (John 3v36) & will not perish after death for He will never leave you & no one can take you from Him (John 10v28; Hebrews 13v5) for you are now an adopted child of God (John 1v12)!

To keep on the right pathway:

talk to God every day in prayer & don't try to hide any sin (1 John 1v9);

read the Bible every day & ask the Holy Spirit to help your understanding (John 16:13);

meet with other believers in Jesus in an orthodox Church (Hebrews 10:24-25);

God will send others with whom you can share the Good News about Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-10);

Please write to us if you have any questions - and if you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour we would love to rejoice with you in your new found life!______________________________________________________________________

The Christian Expositor

Did they call recently?

TENthings Jehovah's Witnesses will never tell you:1.They are NOT Christiansbut they ARE a Soul Destroying Cult2. They profess to support family values but in reality they divide and destroy families3. They claim to get their doctrines directly from God but their writings reveal masses of errors, false prophecies, occultic origins and lies4. Their doctrines have resulted in many deaths - and not just because of their refusal to accept blood transfusions5. Their leaders have lied in court claiming basic knowledge in languages - but when examined they failed simple tests6. They have picketed others' meetings in the past but become enraged when we attend their meetings in Cardiff and elsewhere7. Their leaders have "prophesied" the end of the world in 1874, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1941, and 1975 - we're still here!8. They claim to represent a loving God and to detest war - but gleefully "prophesied" the death of thousands of churchgoing Christians 9. They predicted the return of Old Testament Biblical heroes and built a special home (called "Beth Sarim") for them but their leader "Judge" Rutherford used the house for his needs10. They are forbidden to celebrate their own birthdays or Jesus Christ's birth but the Bible clearly shows birthday celebrations - and that men and angels celebrated Christ's birth! (Matt. 2:2; Lk 2:10-20)TENthingsMormonswill never tell you:1. They are NOT Christians but they ARE a Soul Destroying Cult2. They claim to get their doctrines directly from God but their own writings reveal masses of errors, false prophecies, occultic origins and lies3. They teach that in the afterlife the men will become gods on their own planet!4. They teach that their women will be eternally pregnant populating the planets!5. They teach that unfaithful people who rebelled in heaven have been sent to this earth with a black skin!6. They have taught that if a white person marries a black person the punishment is immediate death7. They have also taught in the past that sins such as theft, adultery and murder should also be punished by "death on the spot!"8. Faithful members of their church must wear sacred undergarments (originally resembling "long-johns" and stretching to the wrists and ankles) constantly - for life!9. They are forbidden to drink tea, coffee and alcohol or smoke tobacco - but their original "prophet" broke all these rules he made (and in his day the Mormons were the biggest producers of alcoholic beverages in their state)!10. In the past their "inspired" leaders declared that Adam was God - and that men live on the moon and the sun!

TENthingsChristadelphianswill not want you to know:1. They are NOT Christians but they ARE a Soul Destroying Cult.2. They believe they are "the only scriptural constitution of the 'one body' of which Jesus Christ alone is the head...."3. They "repudiate the popular churches....and affirm that there is no salvation within the pale of any of them."4. They "object to the fundamental doctrines of Christendom;" (they claim) "the religion of the churches and chapels is a negationof Bible teaching on almost all points" (and) "hold it to be the "abominations of the earth..."5. With other cults and heretics they do not believe that Christ bore the sins of all mankind at Calvary... so there is no possibility of "death bed repentance" as experienced by the thief on the cross (Luke 23v39-43).6. They believe there are three steps to salvation: "belief, baptism, obedience" - the thief on the cross demonstrated only the first and Christ told him: "Today you shall be with me in Paradise." Thus they deny clear Bible teachings.7. Their leaders "prophesied" that the return of Christ "may happen" in 1862-3 and, on a second occasion, that Christ would return before 1910; they have since avoided setting dates but this marks them as the false prophets the Bible tells us to avoid and NOTto fear (Deut. 18v20-22; Matt. 7v15-23).8. They join the Jehovah's Witnesses in denying that Christ is God - and they also deny His pre-existence despite the clear doctrines of the Bible (e.g. John 1v1; 3v13; 6v62; 12v41; 16v28; 20v28; Philipp. 2v5-7). 9. They teach an atonement of works and deny that Christ died for and instead of us and that He paid the debt of our sin totally and offers salvation as a FREE GIFT (Roms. 4v1-5; 5v6-8; Gal. 2v20 & 3v13; Eph. 2v8-10). 10. Thus they offer no assurance of salvation to infants or those mentally impaired - or even those who do not have the time left on earth to study the Bible for "at least a year or two before they understand it well enough to be baptised"!

The Cardiff International Church of Christ (formerly the Central Church of Christ) - is trying to establish itself and may invite you or your children to their meetings at the Welsh Institute of Sport.

TENthings the Cardiff International Church of Christ will not want you to know:1. They exhibit Christian traits but have clear cultic tendencies.2. Their founders claim that the "majority of churchgoers have never repented," pressurise immature Christians to join them and target the vulnerable, such as first year college students away from home for the first time, by using "love bombing" tactics.3. Their teachings make its members dependent upon the leaders so that only if you persevere to the end with them will you be sure of salvation.4. They claim to be the only true church - the clear mark of a cult.5. They "dilute" the atonement of Christ by claiming the "blood of Christ cleanses our conscience (at baptism)"... so there is no possibility of "death bed repentance" as experienced by the thief on the cross (Luke 23v39-43).6. They believe that "baptism is essential to salvation" - the thief on the cross demonstrated that this is not true for Christ told him: "Today you shall be with me in Paradise." Thus they also deny clear Bible teachings (cf. Roms. 10v9-13; John 3v16).7. They deny that salvation is by faith alone by stating: "Man cannot earn salvation through works of merit, but he must comply with the conditions...It involves obedience". Therefore they deny that Christ paid the debt of our sin totally and that He offers salvation as a FREE GIFT (Roms. 5v6-8; 1 Cor. 5v13; Gal. 2v20 & 3v13; Eph. 2v8-10). 8. Thus they offer no assurance of salvation to infants or those mentally impaired - or even those who do not have the time left on earth to show obedience through good works.9. They emphasise "heavy shepherding" in their congregations to the point where you must obey the leadership without question and cut off your old family ties!10. They deny the work of the Holy Spirit today and hence their repeated emphasis on "a lot of supervision (by leaders)" whereas the Bible tells that the Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16v13) and we are to examine everything Spiritual carefully and hold fast to that which is good (1 Thess. 5v19-22).

What now?The word cult is from the Latin word cultus - to worship, or show reverence to something - but specifically describes people who base their beliefs on the world view of an isolated leadership which always denies the central doctrines of Christianity as taught from the Bible. All of these groups - and many others - present a "different gospel" from the historical gospel preached by the apostles (Galatians 1v6-9). The Christ they present is not "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13v8) but an anti-Christ who they present to people instead of the Christ of the Bible who is able to forgive us our sin (John 5v39-40 & Mark 2v5-10). The true gospel - which so many in the world are unaware of - teaches salvation by the grace of God (a FREE GIFT), not conditional on good works (Eph. 2v8-10 & Titus 3v5-7) but obtained by FAITH in the real Jesus who died for all mankind (1 Peter 2v24 & 2 Cor. 5v21) so that we can know that we ARE SAVED and have already passed from spiritual death to spiritual life (John 5v24 & 1 John 5v13). Thus, even the Roman Catholic Church fails to preach the true gospel - so make sure you find a Christian church preaching these vital truths! Do not be taken in by any counterfeit! If you are already studying with any of these groups - or others who exhibit the same "marks of the cults" - we advise you to contact us for more details and conclusive proof of any facts we quote. We challenge dedicated members of these groups to prove us wrong so that errors may be made public.You may already be involved in another world religion, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, or "oneness" teachings of such as the Baha'is - but they are equally in error and cannot provide the reality of the forgiveness, peace and New Life that Jesus Christ can give you today. TODAYyou can know for certain that your sins have been forgiven and you have an eternal future in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ and Almighty God of the Universe! TCE is an orthodox evangelical Christian group dedicated to informing people about the dangers of cults and false religions and reaching out to those who find themselves trapped in those groups.